Connector



arch 6, 1951 L. A. BLACKBURN CONNECTOR Filed July 2, 1945 /Nl/E/V7'OR LUTHE/PA. BLACKBURN ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 6, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2344,481 eeltivnorom I luther lilack-burn, fiynwo'o'd} (jalif. Applieationjuli 2"; 1945,= Seri"a1 602 911 ten-me. (cilia-245 This invention relates to flexible c nnecto'rs navmg particular ap ucaticn to chain construe tions, and contemplates more specifically selfal'ig'n'ing' linkage by which mechanism of various types may be secured to chains for the transmissi'o'n of power therebetween.

is-recogfliz'edinthe art prior to my inventron, the: translation of rotary motion into straightline or reciprocatory-mevement is elfee' tively accomplished by endless drive chains which are arranged parallel to one another" in flat loops, opposite" reaches of each thereof being held in parallel relationship by" sprockets by which they are driver's Mechanism connected between a pair of opposed links of the respective chains" is ac cordingly moved through the loop described by the chains. In order to" effect the straight line motion of. the mechanism or other work carried between the chains, four chains are employed between which a crosshead issuspended. Thecrosshead. comprises a frame in which a pair of roller blocks, connected respectively between different .pairs of opposed chains; are disposed. The blocks are adapted for lateral. movement within the frame to an extent equal to the diameter of the sprockets by which the chains are driven so: as to compensate. for' the move ment of the links of the respective chains from one straight reach thereof to the other during operation. Irr such structures it is very difii'cult to obtain perfect alignment andv balance of the crosshead, due to the number of the various coin;

ponents of the chains and crosshead and the necessity for flexibility between these various elements; As a result, the links of the chains with. which the connecting expedients are asso elated. are often at some stage of. the operation, if ,not continuously, misaligned. to a certain extent. Unless adequate compensation is made in the connector for such misalignment-,the operation of the unit causes excessive wear on the subject parts;. resulting in structural. failures; It will be appreciated that such problems arise in any apparatus involving a connective between parallel reaches of separate chains whether a conventional crossh'ead is utilized or not. I

Itis a principal object of the present invention to, provide a device adapted for universalappli cation as'means for flexibly connecting a chain or a. pair of pare'rllelchains. to other mechanical units, as for example conveyors, reciprocating crossheads, and the like, for transmitting the motion or. part of the cycle of movement of elements of the chain to such othr'mechanisrn; More 'specifically ,.it is aniobject hereof to-"pm:

vide av connector of the" character above: alluded to, incorporating an expansible assembly' to comapparatus connected with .the chain by means of the: present. invention;

Anothenobje'ctis theprovisionlof a, master link comprisinga pair of link. pins which, in com binationpwith a ball. and yoke member, are adaptede'todisplace a link of the chain with-which the connector is assembled; and-.form a. swivel betweenthe' adjoining. links of the chain and the auxiliary structure to or from whichpower is to beztran'smitted thereby.

Other objects andsalient features of my. in vention, such for example as simplicity of con-- struction, ease of operation andreplacement of worn parts, facility of assembly, wide application to numerous chain-operated structures, economy ofmanufacture, anddurability, will be apparent to' those of skill'in the'art upon an examination of the following description read in the light of the "accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a side elevation of. one embodiment or link fitting,showing. the yoke for accommodating a reach-of chain;.

Fig. 2' is aperspective View of the opposite en'dzof' the'fitting, depicting particularly thetubu lar construction. thereof Fig; 3 is a longitudinal sectional 'v'iew'through' the device;

Fig; 4 is a plan view of a pair of connectors of 'rny'in'vention', operatively associated and assembled between a pair of chains shown partially broken away;

Fig. '5 is an end: elevation of oneof the master links;

Fig-6 is a planview of a link and chain in a position..inverted with respect to the view of Fig. 4;

Figs? is a plan view or one of the connectors partially broken away, illustrating in dotted lines the flexibility contributed by' the master link thereof;

Fig 8' is a reduced sectional view, partially broken away, through the yoke of a modified form of my inventiomwlth opposite reaches of a chain operatively associatedtherewith Fig 9 is an end elevation of the embodiment illustrated inFi'gi 8.

- face of the walls I8 and I9.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the numerals of which indicate similar parts throughout the several views, In designates generally each of a pair of master link fittings which are generally round in cross-section, the outer surface of each of which is tapered slightly at one end. Each fitting is formed with a coaxial bore I I to accommodate the end of a shaft or rod I2 of a diameter to insure a sliding fit within the bore I I. In Fig.

4 I have illustrated two fittings I slidably carried on opposite ends of a shaft I2, through which the opposite reaches of synchronously driven chains I3 are connected by the present assembly. It will be understood that shaft I2 will in most applications of the connector be a part of the unit to be carried, actuated or controlled by the chains, or from which power may be transmitted to the chains, and is merely illustrative of such mechanism which will vary in accordance with specific requirements of purpose to be attained, or function to be effected, and with the design and arrangement desired.

The outer end of each fitting III is undercut and transversely recessed as at It, forming a yoke I comprising an overhanging extension I5 having a fiat upper surface I7 and a depending end wall I8, which is parallel to the wall I9 defining the end of the bore of the fitting (see Fig. 3). In operation of a dual embodiment hereof, two master links Ill, slidably carried on opposite ends of coaxially aligned rods projecting from the unit from or to which power is transmitted by the chains, (of which shaft I2 is representative) are juxtaposed over parallel transversely-aligned reaches of two separate chains I3, respectively, which the assembly is adapted to connect, each yoke I5 accommodating one of the chains. The depth of the bore II of respective fittings II! and the length of the rods or shaft i2 are proportioned to the distance between chains I3, whereby in normal operation the outer ends of the rods or shaft I2 are spaced a short distance from the end wall IQ of the bores I I of the respective fittings II Thus, no restraint against limited lateral motion of chains iii in either direction is imposed by the connector, the assembly being expansible and contractible in accordance with requirements through telescopic movement of the rods or shaft I2 and each of the fittings.

- The opposing surfaces of the walls I3 and i9 are arcuately formed with their arcs having a center coinciding with the point intermediate said walls and lying on the longitudinal axis of fitting In so as to provide a bearing for supporting a ball swivel element 28. An opening 2! in the upper extension I6 of the yoke permits insertion and removal of ball 2!). Plug 22 is normally threaded into opening 2| to retain ball 20 in the described position during operation. The under-surface of plug 22 is arcuately formed, as indicated at 23, to conform to the contour of the ball with which it is contiguous. In order to facilitate swiveling the ball within its bearing, an Alemite fitting, generally indicated by the numeral 2t, may be threaded into the upper surface of plug 22 through which grease or other lubricant may be forced into the bearing. 25 indicates a cotter key which is insorted through wall I8 and an upper flange of plug 22 to resist rotative displacement of the latter while the unit is in operation. Ball 20 is formed with a rectangular cut-out 26, extending through a lower arc thereof, re-entering to a depth beyond the center of the ball, with its edges corresponding in shape to the contour of the sur- The ball is drilled at 4 right angles to the opposing inner surfaces thereof to form diametrically opposed holes 21 on either side of cut-out 25 which are aligned with a pair of holes 28 formed in walls I8 and I9, all of such holes being in coaxial alignment with fitting I0. Opposite reaches of the chain to be joined by the master link of my invention are projected into the yoke I5 and cut-out 26 of ball 20 for connection by means of a link pin 29, projected through holes 21 and 28. To this end, the inner end links of one reach of the chain and the outer end links 3I of the other reach of the chain are arranged for assembly with the openings 21 and 28 of ball 20 and yoke I5 and the holes in the ends of the links of the respective reaches of chain I3 in alignment to receive link pin 29. The end of pin 29 is reduced in cross-section and threaded for engagement in the side of ball 20 continguous with wall I9 of the fitting. It will be understood that the openings 28 in the walls I8 and I9, adapted to house the end of the shank and the head of link pin 29, respectively, are of sufficient diameter to permit ball 29 to swivel within yoke I5 to a degree sufficient to enable the angular variations between the fitting and the chain required to compensate for misalignment or lack of proper adjustment of the chains and/or associated structure, resulting from wear or th application of an unbalanced load.

Encircling pin 29 between the inner links 30 of the pivoted chain is provided the conventional sprocket-bearing collar 32 which serves to maintain the required spaced relation of the links. An inner circular bearing sleeve (not shown in the embodiment of Figs. 1 through 7 may be interposed between the collar and pin, as is illustrated in the embodiment of Fig. 8, about to be described. In Figs. 8 and 9 I have illustrated a modified form of my invention which is characterized essentially by independent pivotal mountings for each of the respective chains with which each master link is associated. The fitting 34 of this embodiment is substantially the same as that shown in the embodiment of Figs. 1 through '7 with the omission of the holes 28 in the yoke. It will be observed that in this embodiment the link pins 3535 are housed entirely within ball 36, segments of the latter being cut away as at 3? to accommodate the heads of pins 3535. The opposite ends of the pins are threaded into openings in the opposite side of the ball. The inner pair of links as at the end of each reach of chain to be joined are spaced apart by a collar 39 journalled upon a sleeve 40 having its ends secured in holes in the respective links 38. As above indicated, this assembly of each chain is carried on an independent link pin 35 which is spaced from its complementary pin 35 a distance sufficient to maintain the lateral spacing of collars 39 carried thereby, in accordance with corresponding dimensions of the rest of the chain.

In order to permit assembly and disassembly of the unit, the link pins AI of the links 42 adjoining those secured in the yoke of fitting 34, are removable, being normally secured in operative position by cotter pins 43. Thus, in assembling the mechanism the inner links 38 to be carried by the respective link pins 35-35 of the yoke are disengaged from their respective reaches of the chain and are assembled as described in ball 36 before insertion of the latter into the yoke of fitting 34. The pins 35-35, detached from their respective reaches of chain I3, are turned into parallel relationship so as to extend below ball 36, which is then inserted through the circular opening 2| in the fiat extension I 6 of the fitting. With ball 36 in position, the links 38 are extended laterally of the fitting and joined in an obvious manner with the opposite reaches of the chain by pins 4|. 24 indicates an Alemite fitting corresponding in construction and function with the fitting hereinabove alluded to.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a connector embodying one or more master chain links, through which power may be transmitted between a chain or a pair of chains and associated mechanism of any of a variety of types well known in the art, each master link incorporating a flexible quality to compensate for lateral play in the chain or chains, or mechanical inaccuracies in any of the associated structure, as well as for misalignment, in a dual assembly, of the master links forming parts of a pair of chains, operating synchronously for the control or actuation of mechanism such, for example, as a crosshead or conveyor disposed between the chains.

It will be apparent to those of skill in the art that the features of my invention hereinabove described may be embodied in many forms differing in size, shape, number and proportion of the various parts, and thatthe master links may be incorporated in a connecting expedient having a tubular structure projecting from each side of the yoke instead ofthe single tubular receptacle associated with each yoke as illustrated, without departing from the spirit of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the character described, a chain comprising a plurality of links, a rod disposed to form substantially a right angle with the chain, a sleeve telescopically associated with said rod, said sleeve having a recess in one end thereof to receive links of said chain, and means to pivotally connect said last-named links to said sleeve within said recess.

2. In a device of the character described, a chain comprising pairs of links, a rod adjacent and forming substantially a right angle with said chain, a sleeve telescopically fitted over one end of said rod and movable axially relative to the latter, one end of said sleeve being recessed to accommodate pairs of links at opposite ends of said chains, and means comprising a pin to pivotall connect said last-named links to said sleeve within said recess.

3. In a device of the character described, a pair of chains supported in parallel spaced relation, a shaft between and transverse to said chains, sleeves carried on the ends of said shaft, and

means comprising a link pin to pivot said sleeves to said chains, respectively, about a center coinciding with the axis of said shaft.

4. In a device of the character described, a pair of chains supported in spaced parallel relation, each chain comprising a plurality of links, a shaft between and transverse to said chains, a sleeve longitudinally slidable on each end of said shaft, each sleeve having a recess in its outermost end to accommodate one of the chains, and means comprising a pin to pivotally connect links of said chains to said sleeves, respectively.

5. In a device of the character described, a pair of chains disposed in spaced parallel relationship, each chain comprising a plurality of links, a shaft between said chains and forming substantially right angles therewith, a sleeve carried telescopically on each end of said shaft, the outer end of said sleeves having recesses therein forming yokes overhanging respective chains, a ball swiveled in each yoke, and means to pivotally connect each ball to the adjacent chain.

6. In a device of the character described, a chain comprising links, a rod, a sleeve telescoping one end of said rod and slidable thereon, a ball swiveled in the outer end of said sleeve, said ball having a recess therein, and means to pivotally connect links of said chain in the recess of said ball.

7. In a device of the character described, a pair of chains, each comprising links, a pair of yokes, a ball swiveled in each of said yokes, each ball having a recess therein, links of said chain projecting into said recesses, respectively, means comprising a pin to pivotally connect said links of said chains to said balls, respectively, and means connecting said yokes together.

'8. In a device of the character described, a chain comprising a plurality of links, a yoke having an opening therein, a ball swiveled in the opening formed in the yoke, a plug closing said opening, said ball and yoke being formed with registering recesses to accommodate links of said chains, and means to pivot said last-named links to said ball.

' LUTHER A. BLACKBURN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 331,703 Grater et a1. Dec. 1, 1885 1,337,351 Furbush Apr. 20, 1920 

